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Think PPE is enough? The #1 overlooked safety factor in industrial plants isn’t equipment or training—it’s maintenance. Too often, hazard checks get skipped when the pressure’s on, and that’s when accidents happen. This article shows how ignoring maintenance in your safety planning leads to real-world incidents—and gives you practical steps to build hazard identification and equipment care directly into your safety protocols.
What breaks first on most farm equipment? Bearings, belts, chains, and gearboxes are often at the top of the list. And when they go on you, it always costs more than just the part. Learn why they fail, how to spot the warning signs, and what to do to avoid downtime during the busiest season.
Shutdowns don’t just eat into your schedule — they eat into your budget and your reputation. And if you’re running a plant in the Prairies, you already know the margin for error is razor thin. Whether it’s a conveyor that fails mid-run, a supply delay that leaves you idle, or a utility hiccup that knocks out production, every unplanned stop costs more than you expect.
Every machine hits a point where repairs just don’t make sense anymore. Push past that tipping point, and you’re not saving money — you’re draining your budget, losing uptime, and adding risk. Here’s how to spot the signs and decide whether to repair, upgrade, or replace — before it starts costing more than it’s worth.
Deciding whether to repair or replace industrial equipment isn’t just about cost — it’s about timing, safety, and long-term performance. This technical checklist walks you through signs of failure, cost-benefit factors, and data-driven metrics so you can make the right call before downtime hits.
Industrial maintenance logging is more than just a checklist. It's a living document -a digital record that tracks the health, service history, and planned care of every piece of equipment.
When your industrial equipment breaks down and everything’s on the line — who do you call?
If you run a mill, plant, or ag operation, a summer shutdown might be the last thing you want to do — especially if you’ve never done one before.
Taking your equipment offline, even for a few days, can feel like a huge expense. But not doing it could cost you more…
You know the cost of waiting until something breaks. Here is what the top industrial & ag crews to do avoid downtime.
If you’re running a grain elevator, feedmill, processing plant, or industrial site in Saskatchewan, Alberta, or Manitoba, you already know millwright work isn’t one-size-fits-all—and neither is the cost.
“The stereotype that construction is too physical for women is vanishing with the help of modern tools, equipment and machinery that have made many construction tasks less daunting for women and men.” (Don Proctor, 2022)
“The Canadian Canola Growers Association was the busiest Canadian lobby group in any sector last year.” (Geralyn Wichers, 2023)
“Saskatchewan will need (an estimated) 8,160 new Journeypersons in Red Seal trades over the next decade to meet demand.” (Nick Pearce, 2023)
“The BHP Trades Readiness program will give women the practical experience they need for in-demand careers in the male-dominated mining industry.” (Elizabeth Ireland Postmedia Content Works, 2023)